The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has put forward its regional president, Amjad Hussain Advocate, as the candidate for the chief minister position of Gilgit-Baltistan. This decision represents a historic milestone, as it is the first time the party has chosen a candidate from the Gilgit region for the top executive role in the territory.
In a significant development, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari contacted Hussain via telephone following the nomination. He instructed him to initiate the government formation process and emphasize the enforcement of constitutional and economic rights for the people of this strategically important northern region.
Currently serving as the president of PPP’s Gilgit-Baltistan chapter, Hussain won his seat in the regional assembly from the GBA-1 (Gilgit) constituency in the recent general elections.
Regarding the election outcomes, the Election Commission of Gilgit-Baltistan has officially announced results for 21 out of 24 general seats. The PPP emerged as the largest party with 11 seats, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured six seats. Independent candidates, who later aligned with the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), won four seats. Additionally, candidates backed by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) claimed two seats, and the Majlis Wahdat-i-Muslimeen obtained one seat.
Results for three constituencies—GBA-9 (Skardu-III), GBA-17 (Diamer-III), and GBA-15 (Diamer-I)—have been postponed and will be declared later. Among the six seats reserved for women, PPP won three, PML-N two, and IPP one. The three technocrat seats were evenly distributed, with each party—PPP, PML-N, and IPP—receiving one seat.
Senior PPP leader Nayyar Hussain Bukhari highlighted that including the reserved and technocrat seats will increase the party’s tally to a clear majority of 17 to 19 seats, enabling PPP to comfortably form the next government.
Meanwhile, the nomination of Amjad Hussain Advocate follows a major power-sharing agreement between the PPP and the PML-N aimed at ensuring political stability in the Gilgit-Baltistan legislative assembly. At a joint press conference in Gilgit, PML-N regional leader Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rehman declared his party’s commitment to support the PPP candidate in the upcoming vote for Leader of the House.
Rehman also mentioned that the allocation of other key constitutional positions, such as deputy speaker and Governor of Gilgit-Baltistan, will be determined based on a broader arrangement agreed upon by the central leadership of both parties in Islamabad.
The PPP leadership expressed appreciation for the PML-N’s cooperative stance, describing the consensus as a crucial step toward establishing stable and effective governance in the region.
